Appeal 2007-1112
Application 10/692,116
by reactive gases. (FF 11). Caudill has directed us to no evidence
establishing that aluminum is a metal that would not be subject to attack by
reactive gases.
Haldenby, Seal, and Luttmann
Claims 3-5 and 10-13 are rejected over the combination of Haldenby,
Seal, and Luttmann. These claims require that the plastic liner is a
polyethylene copolymer. Haldenby discloses a liner that is a polyethylene
polymer but does not disclose a copolymer.
The Examiner relies upon Luttmann which discloses lining a
container, such as a metal can, that is lined with, e.g., “a copolymer of
polypropylene and polyethylene.” (FF 22). According to the Examiner,
“[i]t would have been obvious to modify the coating [of Haldenby] ….in
order to get the benefit of another plastic material in addition to the benefit
of polyethylene.” (Ex. Ans. at 4).
Haldenby and Luttmann each disclose metal cylinders for containing
liquid material. As explained by the Examiner, the cylinders of Haldenby
and the cylinders of Luttmann are designed to withstand pressure exerted
from their contents. (Ex. Ans. at 6). The Examiner’s reasoning that it would
be obvious to use a plastic liner that was used in the cylinder of Luttmann as
the polymeric material to be used in the cylinder of Haldenby is sound. We
note that Haldenby generally calls for any suitable polymeric material that
would prevent the cylinder contents from contacting the metal portion of the
cylinder and gives a polyethylene polymer as an example of the material.
Luttmann discloses a polypropylene/polyethylene copolymer liner material
that prevents the cylinder contents from contacting the metal portion of the
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